Auburn

THE NATION

December 11, 1992

THE SEARCH for a football coach has just started despite a report that North Carolina State's Dick Sheridan already has been offered the 10-year, $6 million contract to replace Pat Dye. ''My response is no, no, no,'' Auburn Athletic Director Mike Lude said Thursday of the report by The Atlanta Constitution.

BEAR BRYANT AWARD

ALABAMA COACH Gene Stallings won the Bear Bryant Award as the college coach of the year. His Crimson Tide rolled through the season with a 12-0 record and get a chance to be national champions if they can beat No. 1-ranked Miami in the Sugar Bowl. The award is given by the Football Writers Association of America.

PITTSBURGH

THE ATHLETIC department has scheduled a news conference for this morning amid disclosures that a deal was near to bring Johnny Majors back as football coach.

LSU

JESSE DAIGLE, Louisiana State's on-again, off-again quarterback, confirmed he will give up football next year to devote full time to baseball. He said he had told coach Curley Hallman of his intentions.

FLORIDA

TO REWARD its players, the University of Florida wants to take them to Jacksonville Beach almost two weeks early in preparation for the Gator Bowl on Dec. 31. If approved by UF athletic board, the Gators would spend Dec. 19-22 at the Marriott Sawgrass on the beach and work out at Jacksonville's Wolfson High School. The team would break for Christmas and return to Jacksonville Beach on Dec. 27. . . .

The Gators' game at Gainesville between Florida and Arkansas State, originally scheduled for Sept. 25, 1993, has been moved to Sept. 4 and will be the '93 season opener. Sept. 25 is now an open date for the Gators.